The Empiricists: Hume Induction, Causation, Skepticism

1. The Empiricists: Hume Induction, Causation, Skepticism Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

2. 1. Introduction Outline 2. Inductive Inference and causation 3. Humean Skepticism 4. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

3. Introduction The Problem of Hume’s Skepticism • Hume’s theory of knowledge • Empiricism and Naturalism • Consequence : Skepticism – but to what extent?  Hume is not endorsing any form of dogmatic skepticism, but a “mitigated” skepticism. Our goal is to understand what this means Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

4. 1. Introduction Outline 2. Inductive Inference and causation 3. Humean Skepticism 4. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

5. At stake: Justification of our expectations of the future (based on our sole experience of the past and present) ? The Problem of Induction • The Problem: • No a priori justification • No a posteriori justification – circular argument  Our expectations about the future and the idea of uniformity of nature are not well-founded. Unless… our ideas of causes and effects, of necessary connections were well grounded? Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

6. Copy Principle Meaning = simple impression from which the idea is a copy Cause, or necessary connection: from which impression do these idea come from? Causation Negative Phase • The Problem: • Not from sensation: no sensory experience of connection – only conjunction • Not from reflection – no reflective experience of connection – neither in its interaction with the body, nor in its interaction with the ideas  No experience of connection (even less necessary) – words without meaning? Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

7. Causation Positive Phase • If not from our experience of some connection, where does the ideas of cause an effect, power and necessary connection come from???? • Text Analysis Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

8. 1. Introduction Outline 2. Inductive Inference and causation 3. Humean Skepticism 4. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

9. Descartes’ skepticism • Cartesian doubt impossible • If it were, would be incurable Previous Forms of Skepticism • Montaigne’s skepticism • Senses unreliable: unconvincing • Problem of representationalism: convincing Berkeley’s skepticism Both primary and secondary qualities exist in the mind only -- convincing  Some arguments are convincing, but how far should we taken them? Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

10. Against Excessive Skepticism Excessive skepticism concerning reason Self-contradictory Excessive skepticism concerning the senses Neither convincing nor beneficial – a joke  So, what should we do? Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

11. “The whimsical condition of mankind” • Skepticism and modesty Hume’s Mitigated Skepticism Philosophy restricted to the domain of experience “the reflection of common life, methodized and corrected” Abstract sciences: quantities only Any other matter induces verbal disputes Empirical sciences: probability only No system can be proved to be true / false Burning worthless books? Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

12. 1. Introduction Outline 2. Inductive Inference and causation 3. Humean Skepticism 4. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

13. Hume : Conclusion • Empiricism and Naturalism • The limits of Human Understanding • Most importantly : induction, causation (also: personal identity, freedom etc) • Mitigated Skepticism Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana